Flexible bridge assembly for rimless eyewear

ABSTRACT

A flexible bridge assembly for eyewear is provided. The assembly includes a body comprising a flexible first mounting portion and a second flexible mounting portion each extending from opposite ends of a flexible central portion. The assembly also includes a first mounting member embedded in the first mounting portion; and a second mounting member embedded in the second mounting portion. The first mounting portion and first mounting member comprise a first passage to enable the flexible bridge assembly to be secured to a first lens of the eyewear, and the second mounting portion and second mounting member comprise a second passage to enable the flexible bridge assembly to be secured to a second lens of the eyewear. Rimless eyewear comprising the flexible bridge assembly is also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following relates to flexible bridge assemblies for rimlesseyeglasses.

BACKGROUND

Eyewear such as eyeglasses generally include a frame that supports oneor more lenses. The frame typically includes a nose bridge or nosepieces that engage the user's nose to support the eyewear on the user'shead. Eyeglasses also typically include a pair of arms attached to (orintegral with) the frame, to further support the eyeglasses, e.g. byresting the arms on the user's ears or engaging their head in the templeregion. Other eyewear may include other support elements such as strapsor bands (e.g., in sports goggles). These frames can include rims thatsurround the lenses, or can be connected directly to the lenses inmultiple components, providing a “rimless” configuration.

Eyeglasses have traditionally utilized frames or frame components madefrom substantially rigid materials such as plastics, metals, orcomposite materials. The rigidity of these materials supports the lenseswith the frames, and substantially maintains the shape of the eyeglassessuch that they consistently fit on a user's head as intended. A drawbackof this rigidity is that the frames can only typically withstand someflexure and can be prone to breakage or deformation.

Flexible components have been used in eyewear, for example, flexiblearms and flexible portions of the eyewear frames. Various challenges canarise in construction, assembly, and use when incorporating flexibleelements. For example, the flexibility should not cause the frames todeform and thus lose their shape over time. Other challenges includeassembly complexities and costs associated with using multiple differentmaterials.

It is an object of the following to address at least one of theabove-noted disadvantages.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, there is provided a flexible bridge assembly foreyewear comprising: a body comprising a flexible first mounting portionand a second flexible mounting portion each extending from opposite endsof a flexible central portion; a first mounting member embedded in thefirst mounting portion; and a second mounting member embedded in thesecond mounting portion; wherein the first mounting portion and firstmounting member comprise a first passage to enable the flexible bridgeassembly to be secured to a first lens of the eyewear, and the secondmounting portion and second mounting member comprise a second passage toenable the flexible bridge assembly to be secured to a second lens ofthe eyewear.

In an implementation, the body is overmolded over the first and secondmounting members.

In another aspect, there is provided rimless eyewear comprising: firstand second lenses; first and second arm mounting components coupled to afirst end of a respective one of the first and second lenses; first andsecond arms coupled to the first and second arm mounting components; aflexible bridge assembly coupled to the first and second lenses, theflexible bridge assembly comprising: a body comprising a flexible firstmounting portion and a second flexible mounting portion each extendingfrom opposite ends of a flexible central portion; a first mountingmember embedded in the first mounting portion; and a second mountingmember embedded in the second mounting portion; wherein the firstmounting portion and first mounting member comprise a first passage toenable the flexible bridge assembly to be secured to the first lensusing a first fastener, and the second mounting portion and secondmounting member comprise a second passage to enable the flexible bridgeassembly to be secured to the second lens using a second fastener; andfirst and second nose pieces extending from or coupled to the flexiblebridge assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the appendeddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of rimless eyewear with a flexible bridgeassembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the flexible bridgeassembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a portion of theflexible bridge assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the flexible bridge assembly,with transparency used to illustrate interior components;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the flexible bridge assembly shown in FIG. 4,with transparency used to illustrate interior components;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible bridge assembly shownin FIG. 5 along line VI-VI;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating flexure of theflexible bridge assembly in one direction;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating flexure of theflexible bridge assembly in another direction;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the flexible bridge assembly inisolation;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the rimless eyewear shown inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view of a portion of a lens shown in FIG.10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To provide flexibility in eyewear, particularly rimless eyeglasses, aflexible bridge assembly can be provided in which rigid mounting membersare contained or embedded in a flexible body that includes a flexiblecentral portion that allows flexibility about the bridge of the eyewear.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of anassembled rimless eyewear 10, also referred to interchangeably herein asan rimless eyewear assembly 10 or rimless eyewear 10 or eyewear 10 forbrevity. The rimless eyewear 10 includes a pair of lenses 12, in thisexample a first lens 12 a and a second lens 12 b. The lenses 12 a, 12 bare supported in a “rimless” configuration and thus frame components areattached directly to the lenses 12 a, 12 b rather than encircling andretaining them. The lenses 12 a, 12 b are connected to each other via aflexible bridge assembly 14 that includes or otherwise supports firstand second nose pieces 20 a, 20 b. A first arm 18 a is connecteddirectly to the first lens 12 a via a first arm mounting component 16 a,and second arm 18 b is connected directly to the second lens 12 b via asecond arm mounting component 16 b. The first and second arm mountingcomponents 16 a, 16 b can include hinges to permit the arms 18 a, 18 bto be folded relative to the lenses 12 a, 12 b as is known in the art.

Additional details of the flexible bridge assembly 14 are apparent fromFIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2 it can be observed that the flexible bridgeassembly 14 is connected to the lenses 12 via a pair of fasteners 34,which can be a screw, bolt, post, rivet, etc. In this example, a firstfastener 34 a is used to connect a first mounting portion 30 a of theflexible bridge assembly 14 to the first lens 12 a, and a secondfastener 34 b is used to connect a second mounting portion 30 b of theflexible bridge assembly 14 to the second lens 12 b. The mountingportions 30 a, 30 b are integral with a flexible central portion 32 ofthe flexible bridge assembly 14, which provides a desired separationbetween the lenses 12 a, 12 b when assembled as shown in FIG. 2. Theflexible material comprising the flexible first and second mountingportions 30 a, 30 b extending from either end of the flexible centralportion 32 may also be referred to herein as a flexible body or bodygenerally, or collectively the “flexible material”.

In FIG. 3, the transparency illustrates that the first nose piece 20 ain this example is an extension of a first mounting member 40 a that isembedded or otherwise included within the first mounting portion 30 a ofthe flexible bridge assembly 14. While not shown in FIG. 3 (but shown inFIG. 4), it can be appreciated that in this example, the second nosepiece 20 b is an extension of a second mounting member 40 b that isembedded or otherwise included within the second mounting portion 30 bof the flexible bridge assembly 14. As will be explained in greaterdetail below, the mounting members 40 are made from a rigid material toprovide stability and support for the eyewear 10 when the flexiblebridge assembly 14 is attached to the lenses 12 a, 12 b. The othermaterial that forms the first and second mounting portions 30 a, 30 band the flexible central portion 32 are preferably overmolded on themounting members 40 a, 40 b to create the assembly 14 that can then beassembled with the lenses 12 a, 12 b in constructing the eyewear.

The construction of the flexible bridge assembly 14 can be done usingany suitable overmolding process. Overmolding, sometimes referred to astwo times injection molding, is a process where a single part is createdusing two or more different materials in combination. Typically, thefirst material (or substrate) is partially or fully covered byovermolded material during the manufacturing process. In this case, therigid mounting members 40 a, 40 b would act as the substrate that isovermolded with the material used to create the flexible mountingportions 30 a, 30 b and central portion 32 thereon, which is generally asofter plastic, rubber, or elastomer (e.g., PTE), or other suitablematerial. It can be appreciated that the flexible material wouldtypically be overmolded to the rigid mounting members 40 a, 40 b, priorto attaching the flexible bridge assembly 14 to the lenses 12 a, 12 b.That is, the flexible bridge assembly 14 is preferably constructed as aseparate component that is incorporated into the assembly process.

FIG. 4 illustrates further detail of the mounting hardware used in thisexample. The first fastener 34 a in this example is embodied as a bolthaving an unthreaded shaft 44 a that includes a portion of threadingthat receives a first nut 46 a on the rear side of the first lens 12 a.Similarly, the second fastener 34 b has an unthreaded shaft 44 a thatincludes a portion of threading that receives a second nut 46 b on therear side of the second lens 12 b.

Turning now to the plan view shown in FIG. 5, it can be observed thatthe mounting members 40 a, 40 b are preferably overmolded or otherwiseincorporated into the flexible bridge assembly 14 such that they providerigid surfaces that bear against faces and edges of the lenses 12 a, 12b. Specifically, the first mounting member 40 a includes a first edgebearing surface 54 a that seats with and engages an inner edge portionof the first lens 12 a, and a first face bearing surface 56 a that seatswith and engages an outwardly facing portion of the front face of thefirst lens 12 a. This effectively provides a notch or recess in theflexible bridge assembly 14 for the first lens 12 a. Similarly, thesecond mounting member 40 b includes a second edge bearing surface 54 bthat seats with and engages an inner edge portion of the second lens 12b, and a second face bearing surface 56 b that seats with and engages anoutwardly facing portion of the front face of the second lens 12 b. Thisprovides a notch or recess in the flexible bridge assembly 14 for thesecond lens 12 b.

The “notches” provided in the flexible bridge assembly 14 also serve toalign a first mounting passage 50 a with a first lens passage 52 a forinserting the first fastener 34 a for securing the flexible bridgeassembly 14 to the first lens 12 a. Similarly, this allows a secondmounting passage 50 b to be aligned with a second lens passage 52 b forinserting the second fastener 34 b for securing the flexible bridgeassembly 14 to the second lens 12 b. It can be appreciated that theovermolded material can be configured to allow the heads of the firstand second fasteners 34 a, 34 b to be at least partially countersunk asillustrated in FIG. 5. Similarly, the amount of overmolded material canbe varied to suit different styles and aesthetics.

It can also be observed from FIG. 5 that the mounting members 40 a, 40 bcan be provided with one or more holes 42 for the overmolding process.This is further illustrated in the cross-sectional view in FIG. 6wherein the overmolded material of the mounting portion 30 flows throughthe hole 42 during the overmolding process and fills this hole 42 whencured to provide additional gripping and encapsulation of the mountingmember 40. It can be appreciated that two holes 42 are shown in FIG. 5for illustrative purposes only and any one or more holes can be used.

The softer and flexible overmolded material that extends from themounting portions 30 a, 30 b and through the central portion 32 createsa flexible bridge. The flexible central portion 32 enables the eyewear10 to be flexed such that the rigid lenses 12 a, 12 b and arms 18 a, 18b attached thereto can be bent or otherwise separated or twistedrelative to each other. This allows, for example, a user to slightlyflex the arms 18 a, 18 b away from each other when placing the eyewear10 on their head, with resiliency in the flexible central portion 32causing the arms 18 a, 18 b to return towards each other and seatagainst the user's head and on their ears. This flexibility also resistsbreakage of the rigid components by permitting them to flex, twist andto a certain extent fold, e.g., if the eyewear 10 falls, is sat-upon bythe user, is stuffed into a purse or bag, etc. This flexibility isillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 in which FIG. 7 shows flexure of thecentral portion 32 allowing the arms 18 a, 18 b to be further separated.FIG. 8 shows flexure of the central portion 32 in the other direction,allowing the lenses 12 a, 12 b and arms 18 a, 18 b to be compressedtowards each other without damaging the eyewear 10.

The flexible bridge assembly 14 is shown in isolation in FIG. 9, fromthe rear view. In this view, it can be seen that the amount ofovermolded material in the notched areas of the first and secondmounting portions 30 a, 30 b is minimal or none to provide relativelyrigid surfaces 54, 56 to engage the lenses 12. The nose pieces 20 a, 20b are integral with the mounting members 40 a, 40 b in this example andextend from the overmolded material. However, it can be appreciated thatthe nose pieces 20 a, 20 b could instead be constructed separately andcoupled to the flexible bridge assembly 14 using other means. Forexample, posts (not shown) could be included which extend from theovermolded material and provide mounting areas for separate nose pieces(also not shown). In either configuration, the nose pieces 20 a, 20 bcan be made from a flexible or deformable material that providesadjustability, and if applicable, can provide mounting areas for nosepads (not shown).

Also shown in FIG. 9 are first and second alignment tabs 60 a, 60 b thatalso extend from the overmolded material and conform to the shape of atleast a portion of the first and second lens passages 52 a, 52 b.Referring also to FIG. 6, the tabs 60 a, 60 b can be sized to extendinto a slot or countersunk portion of the passages 52 a, 52 b. Thesetabs 60 a, 60 b can include slots 62 a, 62 b that provide someresiliency to have the flexible bridge assembly 14 “snap” into the lenspassages 52 a, 52 b. The tabs 60 a, 60 b (and slot or countersunkpassage in lenses 12 a, 12 b) can also be oblong in shape, rather thancircular, to inhibit rotation of the lenses 12 a, 12 b about the tabs 60a, 60 b.

The exploded view in FIG. 10 illustrates the various components that areassembled to construct the eyewear 10. The fasteners 34 a, 34 b areinserted through the flexible bridge assembly 14 and the respective lenspassages 52 a, 52 b and secured with the first and second nuts 46 a, 46b. As indicated above, the oblong shape of the tabs 60 a, 60 b andcorresponding shape of the passages 52 a, 52 b serves to align thelenses 12 a, 12 b relative to the flexible bridge assembly 14. Alsoshown in FIG. 10 is a first arm fastener 70 a that is fed through afirst arm mounting passage 74 a at the outer end of the first lens 12 athat is secured with a third nut 72 a to assemble the first arm 18 a.Similarly, a second arm fastener 70 b is fed through a second armmounting passage 74 b at the outer end of the second lens 12 b that issecured with a fourth nut 72 b to assemble the second arm 18 b. FIG. 11provides an enlarged view of the second lens passage 52 b to illustratethe corresponding shape of that passage 52 b to accommodate insertion ofthe second tab 60 b and to inhibit rotation and thus align the secondlens 12 b with the flexible bridge assembly 14. The other lens passages52 a, 74 a, 74 b can be similarly shaped for the same purpose.

While the foregoing discusses the use of overmolding as a preferredmethod of incorporating the rigid mounting members 40 a, 40 b in andwith the flexible bridge assembly 14, it can be appreciated that othermethods could instead be used. For example, the flexible mountingportions 30 a, 30 b could include a slot or cavity that is sized toreceive the rigid mounting members 40 a, 40 b in the way illustrated inFIG. 5. In this example, the rigid mounting members 40 a, 40 b could bebonded to the flexible material to construct the flexible bridgeassembly 14. This can be done prior to, or subsequent to mounting themounting members 40 a, 40 b on the lenses 12 a, 12 b.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the examples described herein. However, it will beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the examplesdescribed herein may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the examples describedherein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting thescope of the examples described herein.

It will be appreciated that the examples and corresponding diagrams usedherein are for illustrative purposes only. Different configurations andterminology can be used without departing from the principles expressedherein. For instance, components and modules can be added, deleted,modified, or arranged with differing connections without departing fromthese principles.

Although the above principles have been described with reference tocertain specific examples, various modifications thereof will beapparent to those skilled in the art as outlined in the appended claims.

1. A flexible bridge assembly for eyewear comprising: a body comprisinga flexible first mounting portion and a second flexible mounting portioneach extending from opposite ends of a flexible central portion; a firstmounting member embedded in the first mounting portion; and a secondmounting member embedded in the second mounting portion; wherein thefirst mounting portion and first mounting member comprise a firstpassage to enable the flexible bridge assembly to be secured to a firstlens of the eyewear, and the second mounting portion and second mountingmember comprise a second passage to enable the flexible bridge assemblyto be secured to a second lens of the eyewear.
 2. The assembly of claim1, wherein the body is overmolded over the first and second mountingmembers.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first and secondmounting members each comprise at least one hole for receiving materialapplied in overmolding the body.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising first and second nose pieces.
 5. The assembly of claim 4,wherein the first nose piece is integral with the first mounting memberand the second nose piece is integral with the second mounting member,the nose pieces extending from the first and second flexible mountingportions of the body.
 6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first andsecond nose pieces are adjustable.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, whereinthe first and second mounting portions of the body are countersunk toaccommodate fasteners for securing the flexible bridge assembly to thelenses.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and secondmounting members each comprise a tab surrounding the first and secondpassages, the tabs for inserting into portions of the passages in thelenses.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the tabs comprise slits toprovide resiliency during insertion.
 10. The assembly of claim 8,wherein the tabs comprise an oblong shape that corresponds to an oblongshape of the portion of the passages in the lenses.
 11. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the first and second mounting portions of the body areconfigured to provide notches aligned with surfaces of the first andsecond mounting members to engage with edges and faces of the lenses.12. Rimless eyewear comprising: first and second lenses; first andsecond arm mounting components coupled to a first end of a respectiveone of the first and second lenses; first and second arms coupled to thefirst and second arm mounting components; a flexible bridge assemblycoupled to the first and second lenses, the flexible bridge assemblycomprising: a body comprising a flexible first mounting portion and asecond flexible mounting portion each extending from opposite ends of aflexible central portion; a first mounting member embedded in the firstmounting portion; and a second mounting member embedded in the secondmounting portion; wherein the first mounting portion and first mountingmember comprise a first passage to enable the flexible bridge assemblyto be secured to the first lens using a first fastener, and the secondmounting portion and second mounting member comprise a second passage toenable the flexible bridge assembly to be secured to the second lensusing a second fastener; and first and second nose pieces extending fromor coupled to the flexible bridge assembly.
 13. The eyewear of claim 12,wherein the body is overmolded over the first and second mountingmembers.
 14. The eyewear of claim 13, wherein the first and secondmounting members each comprise at least one hole for receiving materialapplied in overmolding the body.
 15. The eyewear of claim 12, whereinthe first nose piece is integral with the first mounting member and thesecond nose piece is integral with the second mounting member, the nosepieces extending from the first and second flexible mounting portions ofthe body.
 16. The eyewear of claim 12, wherein the first and second nosepieces are adjustable.
 17. The eyewear of claim 12, wherein the firstand second mounting portions of the body are countersunk to accommodatefasteners for securing the flexible bridge assembly to the lenses. 18.The eyewear of claim 12, wherein the first and second mounting memberseach comprise a tab surrounding the first and second passages, the tabsfor inserting into portions of the passages in the lenses.
 19. Theeyewear of claim 18, wherein the tabs comprise slits to provideresiliency during insertion.
 20. The eyewear of claim 18, wherein thetabs comprise an oblong shape that corresponds to an oblong shape of theportions of the passages in the lenses.
 21. The eyewear of claim 12,wherein the first and second mounting portions of the body areconfigured to provide notches aligned with surfaces of the first andsecond mounting members to engage with edges and faces of the lenses.22. The eyewear of claim 13, wherein the body is overmolded over thefirst and second mounting members prior to coupling the flexible bridgeassembly to the first and second lenses.
 23. The eyewear of claim 13,wherein the body is overmolded over the first and second mountingmembers subsequent to coupling the first and second mounting members tothe first and second lenses.